TRADE LIBERALIZATION AND ITS IMPACT ON WOMEN'S REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH OUTCOMES IN INDIA.

Abstract

This paper examines the differential levels of trade exposure at a state level in India during the 1997-2007 period to measure the causal impact of trade liberalization on women’s reproductive health outcomes such as Total Fertility Rate (TFR) and Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR). The findings in this paper indicate that while increasing trade liberalization engenders a significant positive economic impact, the economic impact does not necessarily trickle down to improving reproductive health outcomes. This paper also explores the possible channels, such as state level expenditures and male and female wages through which the positive economic impact is being thwarted to improvements in reproductive health outcomes.